USA TODAY Sports

Former MLB Executive Says Orioles Are Not as Good as Record Indicates

Originally posted on FanNation Fastball | By Brady Farkas | Last updated 5/11/23

The Baltimore Orioles just took two of three from the Tampa Bay Rays and own the second-best record in the American League at 24-13.

In fact, our own Tom Brew just wrote a column saying how good the Orioles are and how they'll be in the playoff race all season long.

However, former MLB executive Steve Phillips doesn't see it that way. He was on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM on Thursday and threw some water on the Orioles hot start.

You can hear the full comments below but here is a partial transcript of what he said:

"....they have the second-best record, but they aren't the second-best team in baseball because the starting pitching ERA is 5.08 and they've won games that they don't deserve to win, so what I'm telling you is, they are going to slide."

Phillips misspoke, as the Braves actually have the second-best record, but the O's do have the second-best record in the American League.

Phillips is right to point out the concerns in the starting rotation. The Orioles didn't do much this offseason to add pitching, just bringing in Kyle Gibson (4-2, 4.40 ERA) and Cole Irvin (demoted to Triple-A) and that could come back to haunt them.

They are getting a historic season from reliever Yennier Cano and have a lot of fun and exciting youth like Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson, but you wonder if those guys will eventually hit a wall.

We'll see over time if Phillips or Brew is correct!

This article first appeared on FanNation Fastball and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: